Sky Seah: The shift in focus to user experience and human aspects of real estate

Sky Seah, a senior lecturer in the Department of Real Estate at the National University of Singapore Business School, is taking a one-year break from her role as academic director to pursue a Master of Liberal Arts degree in Psychology at Harvard University. “It’s something I’ve always wanted to do,” she says. “I’ve long been interested in understanding how people think and how it shapes their behaviour.” Seah believes that understanding human behaviour has become increasingly relevant as the real estate market evolves. She has observed this shift firsthand as a judge on the panel of the EdgeProp Singapore Excellence Awards 2024 for the second consecutive year. “We’re seeing more focus on user experience and the human aspects of real estate across sectors like retail, hospitality, residential, and office developments,” she notes. Advertisement Advertisement She attributes this evolution in Singapore’s real estate landscape to a more affluent and well-travelled society, where Singaporeans have developed increasingly discerning tastes. “With social media making information readily accessible, however, reputational costs for companies, including developers, have also increased significantly,” she adds. The multihyphenate urban economist, academic, and real estate investor was particularly curious to see how the luxury residential projects submitted for this year’s awards have managed to perform well despite being impacted by multiple rounds of property cooling measures. The harshest of these, introduced in April 2023, imposed a 60% additional buyer’s stamp duty on foreigners purchasing residential property. “I wanted to see how these projects, despite their high price points and reduced number of foreign buyers, could attract attention and successfully sell out their units,” she says. “I was especially impressed by Amber Park and Meyer Mansion for their level of offerings and services.” Both Amber Park and Meyer Mansion are freehold luxury condos located on the East Coast in Prime District 15. The 592-unit Amber Park, developed by City Developments Ltd and Hong Realty, is situated at Amber Garden and was designed by SCDA Architects. It was completed last December. The 200-unit Meyer Mansion, developed by GuocoLand and located on Meyer Road, was designed by ADDP Architects and was completed in April this year. Advertisement Advertisement However, the project that impressed Seah the most was the 640-unit Clavon, located at Clementi Avenue 1 in District 5. Developed by UOL Group and Singapore Land Group, it was designed by P&T Consultants. Clavon was also completed in April this year. “I appreciate projects where the developer faced a site constraint and not only overcame it but transformed it into a positive feature,” Seah explains. “Clavon exemplifies this by utilising the steep terrain to create a two-tier facilities deck with a waterfall and lush greenery, resulting in a welcoming, resort-like atmosphere.” Another standout project was Guoco Midtown, a mixed-use integrated development on Beach Road. “The site is not your typical Grade-A premium office location,” she says. “But the developer, GuocoLand, set out to achieve rents comparable to those in the prime CBD — and succeeded.” The main factor, Seah adds, was connectivity: a seamless integration of the various components — the office tower, retail space, network hub, residences, and a direct link to Bugis MRT Interchange Station. “I may have gone on the site visit as an academic and as part of the judging panel, but when I listened to the developer explain how the design, engineering, and spaces were centred on user experience, I realised how much sense it made,” Seah says. “It was refreshing to see how the vision was executed in the final product, especially in how the different aspects of an integrated development came together.” She adds that the developer had adopted a holistic approach, with a focus on wellness as well. Recreational amenities and communal areas are thoughtfully integrated within various landscaped gardens, providing spaces for people to socialise. “It ties in very well with the wellness theme, as it considers how people live, work, and play,” she notes. The user experience reached new heights in the hospitality sector, adds Seah. This year’s entries included a variety of hotels, ranging from boutique to upscale and luxury. What she found particularly interesting was that “each had its own ambience and unique user experience they aimed to curate”. Advertisement Advertisement The hotel that stood out most to her was the 204-room The Singapore Edition. “It’s not just one element; it’s a coalescence of many,” she notes. “From the moment you step into the lobby, you’re enveloped in a sense of tranquillity and quiet luxury, surrounded by walls of white and ivory.” It also underscored the importance of user experience in hotels, she adds. “You gain an appreciation for the dedication needed to uphold luxury, from skilled staff and meticulous attention to detail to managing the challenges of the climate.”